Eleven-year-old Smith Pruitt is fascinated by electronics and enjoys playing at the pool. While he may sound like any other boy his age, he faces challenges unlike the rest. Smith was born with autism, which is a developmental disorder that impairs his ability to do many activities, communicate his feelings and socialize with others. 

"We're still working on potty training, his self-help skills and things like that," said Erin Pruitt, Smith’s mother.

To help her son have independence, learn responsibility and receive emotional support, the Pruitt family has been working with Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services (PAALS) to get Smith an autism service dog. The problem though is the cost of having such a highly-skilled animal. Because of the many months of training, tests and veterinarian care, a service dog to accommodate Smith’s needs costs between $22,000 and $29,000, according to PAALS Executive Director Jennifer Rogers.

The organization asks every family seeking a service dog to cover a third of the expense.

That price, although steep, does not quell Pruitt’s desire to get her son a service dog. 

“I want him to have a friend and a companion. I want him to have a buddy, someone that loves you unconditionally,” Pruitt tearfully stated.

Her desire is now a real possibility thanks to the kindness of her daughter’s summer swim team, Hobcaw Yacht Club in Mount Pleasant. At the beginning of the season, the members of the Hobcaw board wanted the 180-member team to experience the joy of giving back to the community. The group decided to help the Pruitt family raise money for an autism service dog.

In a single night, the swim team raised approximately $8,400. 

“It was absolutely amazing. It had to be, no I know it was, one of the best days of my whole life. It’s a very humbling experience to have that community embrace us and help us with something like this,” Pruitt said, while choking back tears.

“I’m getting goose bumps just thinking about it because we were overwhelmed. These kids just blew me away. They wound up raising so much money they actually exceeded their one-third goal,” said Rogers, who attended the swim-a-thon with the service dog Smith is expected to receive.

Pruitt believes Aubrey, a yellow lab in training to be Smith’s autism service dog, will help her son. 

“I am always out there trying to find something that maybe might be the key to maybe unlocking Smith’s autism,” she explained. 

PAALS trains autism service dogs to apply deep-pressure relief and comfort to a child by pressing on a leg or lying on a child’s lap. 

“If this family is at a restaurant and he (Smith) starts to feel overwhelmed and starts to indicate that he’s going to really have a hard time, Aubrey can come over and lean on his leg and give him that deep muscle pressure that will help calm him down,” Rogers said.

Service dogs for autism are also trained to help a child improve social and life skills. Rogers has noticed positive signs in Smith during his interactions with Aubrey. 

“Petting Aubrey and leaning on her has seemed to calm him down a couple times when he gets excited in his playroom,” Rogers said.

The calming effect the service dog might have on Smith is one of the benefits Pruitt looks forward to for her son. She also believes it will help with his language skills. 

“If you see him at Barnes and Noble, you might ask, ‘Hey is that your dog? Can I pet your dog? Can I say hello?’ It might give him conversation that he may not normally have,” she said.

All of Pruitt’s hopes could become reality in September, when the dog is scheduled to graduate from the two-year service training program. Aubrey could then be permanently placed with Smith in September. 

It is expected to be a life-changing experience for the Pruitt family, one that will be remembered as a team effort, thanks to the generosity of the Hobcaw Yacht Club Swim Team and the surrounding community.

For more information about Palmetto Animal Assisted Life Services, visit www.paals.org